old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

“5. Share time, resources, and happiness with others.
“6. Foster opportunities to cultivate virtue. Avoid alcohol and gambling.
“7. Cultivate humility, gratitude, and simple living.
“8. Seek opportunities to be close to bhikkhus in order to study the Way.
“9. Live a life based on the Four Noble Truths.
“10. Learn how to meditate in order to release sorrows and anxieties.”
The Buddha praised lay disciples who lived the teaching in their daily lives within their families and society. He made special mention of
Sudatta Anathapindika. He said that Sudatta was an exemplar of one who devoted all his efforts to creating a life full of meaning, service,
and happiness. Sudatta’s heart was truly deep. His entire life had been guided by the teaching. The Buddha said that people who owned far
greater wealth than Sudatta would not find it easy to match the happiness he had created for others. Sudatta’s wife, Punnalakkhana, was
moved to tears by the Buddha’s praise of her husband.
She stood up and respectfully addressed the Buddha, “Lord, a wealthy person’s life is often very busy, especially when he owns many
things. I think that maintaining a small and modest vocation would be more conducive to spiritual practice. When we see the bhikkhus, free
of home and family, who own little more than a bowl, we long for a more simple, carefree life ourselves. We would like to live a leisurely
life, too, but we are bound by so many responsibilities. What can we do?”
The Buddha answered, “Punnalakkhana, bhikkhus have responsibilities too. A celibate life requires a bhikkhu to live mindfully by the
precepts day and night. A bhikkhu devotes his life to others. Lay disciples, the Tathagata wishes to suggest a way by which you can taste
the life of a bhikkhu twice a month or so. We shall call this practice the Eight Observances for the Laity. Twice a month you can come to
the temple and follow these practices for a day and a night. Like the bhikkhus, you will eat only one meal. You can practice sitting and
walking meditation. For twenty-hours you can enjoy a celibate, aware, concentrated, relaxed, peaceful, and joyous life as if you were a
monk or nun. When the day is over, you can return to your secular life, observing the five precepts and three refuges as usual.
“Lay disciples, the Tathagata will inform the bhikkhus about the Eight Observances for the Laity. These special days of practice can be
organized at temples or even in your own homes. You can invite bhikkhus to your homes to administer the eight observances and to offer
teaching on your day of practice.”
Punnalakkhana was pleased with the Buddha’s suggestion. She asked, “Please, Lord, what are the eight observances?”
The Buddha answered,“Do not kill, do not steal, do not engage in sexual activity, do not lie, do not use alcohol, do not adorn yourself
with jewelry, do not sit or lie on a fancy bed, and do not use money. These eight observances can prevent forgetfulness and confusion.
Eating only one meal on your day of practice will allow more time for your practice.”
The people were happy with the Buddha’s suggestion for special days of practice for the laity.
Ten days later, a servant from Sudatta’s household came to inform Venerable Sariputta that Sudatta’s illness had taken a turn for the
worse. Sariputta asked Ananda to join him and together they walked into the city. They found Sudatta lying on his bed. A servant pulled
two chairs close to the bed for the bhikkhus.
Knowing that Sudatta was suffering greatly in his body, Venerable Sariputta advised him to practice contemplating on the Buddha, the
Dharma, and the Sangha, to ease the pain. “Lay disciple Sudatta, let us contemplate together on the Buddha, the Enlightened One; on the
Dharma, the Way of Understanding and Love; and on the Sangha, the Noble Community which lives in harmony and awareness.”
Knowing that Sudatta did not have much longer to live, Venerable Sariputta told him, “Lay disciple Sudatta, let us contemplate as
follows—my eyes are not me, my ears are not me, my nose, my tongue, my body, and my mind are not me.”
Sudatta followed Sariputta’s instructions. Then Sariputta continued, “Now let us continue to contemplate—that which I see is not me,
that which I hear is not me, that which I smell, taste, touch, and think are not me.”
Sariputta then showed Sudatta how to contemplate on the six sense consciousnesses—seeing is not me, hearing is not me, smelling,
tasting, touching, and thinking are not me.”
Sariputta continued, “The element earth is not me. The elements water, fire, air, space, and consciousness are not me. I am not bound or
restrained by the elements. Birth and death cannot touch me. I smile because I have never been born and I will never die. Birth does not
give me existence. Death does not take existence away.”
Suddenly Sudatta began to weep. Startled to see tears roll down the lay disciple’s cheeks, Ananda asked him, “Are you upset, Sudatta,
because you are unable to follow the contemplation?”
Sudatta answered, “Venerable Ananda, I am not upset at all. I am able to follow the contemplation without difficulty. I weep because I
am so deeply moved. For more than thirty years I have had the honor of serving the Buddha and the bhikkhus. But I have never heard a